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(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. GERRY. SYNOHRONIZING CLOCK.

N0. 584,128. Patented June 8,1897.

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(NO Model.) 3 Sheets-Shet 2.

J. H. GERRY. SYNGHRONIZING CLOCK. No. 584,128. Patented June 8, 1897.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. H. GERRY.

SYNGHRONIZING CLOCK.

No. 584,128. Patented June 8,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEieE.

JAMES H. GERRY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SELF IVINDING CLOCK COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

SYNCHRONlZlNG CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,128, dated June 8, 1897.

Application filed March 11,1896. Serial No. 582,785. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. GERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Synchronizing Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to simplify and improve the scconds-hand-synchronizin g mechanism of electrically-controlled clocks.

In synchronizing clocks it has been proposed to employ an electromagnetic device, the operation of which first disengages a clutch to disconnect the hand to be synchronized from a part of the driving-train, then forcibly turns the hand to the synchronizingpoint, and then, as the synchronizing moment arrives, releases the hand-connecting clutch to the action of a spring which causes its reengagement with the clock-train. IIeretofore the clutch-spring which causes the reengagement of the seconds-hand or its arbor with the escapement wheel or train has been so mounted that its action when compressed by the synchronizing mechanism, or when released to cause reengagement of the parts, has thrown a varying resistance into the operation of the clock at its most sensitive point,

' the shock of engagement and disengagement causing such an acceleration or retarding action on the escapement as to crease such aberrations of the pendulum as to seriously interfere with the accuracy of movement of the clock or even to stop its movement.

In synchronizing the seconds-hand of a clock it is necessary to disconnect the hand from the escapement, which presents an effective check to any such irregular movement of the hand as is necessary for synchronizing. It is also desirable to disconnect the secondshand from the clock-train and leave the escapement in gear with the clock-train to continue its normal operation, because, when the escapement is disconnected from the clock-train as well as from the seconds-hand, the result is a great aberration of movement of the pendulum as the clock-train is thrown into and out of gear with the escapement.

My invention consists, therefore, in providin g means for disconnecting the seconds-hand, not only from the escapement but from the clock-train as well, leaving the latter to coin tinue to operate under government of the pendulum-escapement. To accomplish this, I mount the spring, its abutment, and the sliding member of the clutch directly on the seconds-hand arbor. The whole device thus turns with the arbor so long as the hand is driven by the train and the spring offers no resistance to its turning; and when by the action of the synchronizing mechanism the clutch is disengaged, compressing the spring, the frictional resistance which it offers is confined solely to the rotation of the hand being synchronized, and thus falls on the electromagnetic synchronizing device (which readily can be made strong enough to manage it) .instead of on the eseapement and clock-spring. The action of the synchronizing mechanism thus does not vary the action of the clocktrain by throwing on or off of it the resistance of the clutch-sprin g, but merely momentarily relieves the train of the slight inertia of the seconds-hand and its attached parts and then restores the connection, a proceeding involving the minimum of variation in the load of the train.

My invention relates, further, to the manner of mounting the synchronizing-cams and seconds-hand upon the secondshand shaft. Instead of the customary single synchronizing-cam I prefer to employ a double-heartshaped cam or two single-heart-shaped cams, which are mounted eccentrically upon atubular sleeve with their indentations or notches corresponding. The tubular sleeve has a small pin extending eccentrically through it, and the seconds-hand shaft is flattened or cut away on on e side, so as to engage said pin when the tubular sleeve is slipped over the flat tened or cut-away end of the shaft. The ends of the small pin project slightly beyond the surface of the tubular sleeve, and the collar of the seconds-hand is cut out to form a notch which engages said projecting ends of the pin. This arrangement insures the proper relative positions of the parts when they are assembled. The synchronizing-lever is actuated, as usual, by an electromagnet and is preferably provided with a pointed engaging linger and a loosely-journaled roller, which operate, respectively, upon the two synchronizing heart-shaped cams and a suitable device for shifting the seconds-hand clutch, so that the seconds-hand shaft will be disengaged from the clock-train before the hand is synchronized.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will first describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, and afterward point out with more particularity the novelty in the annexed claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an electrieally-controlled synchronizing clock embodying my improvement-s. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation taken longitudinally through the secondshand shaft. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective View showing the synchronizing-cams and the manner of securing them and the secondshand to the shaft. Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation of my improved synchronizing mechanism. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional elevational showing the synchronizing-arm in the act of synchronizing the seconds-hand.

1 is a clock-frame containing the clock-train, of any suitable construction, preferably provided with a small electric motor 2 for winding. The motorcurrent is controlled by the clock-train.

Journaled in the upper part of the frame 1 is the seconds-hand shaft 5, which is confined against longitudinal movement in the frame.

6 is a sleeve looselyjournaled upon the shaft 5 and having the escapement-wheel 7 and pinion 8 mounted upon and rotating upon it. The clock-train is geared to the pinion S in the customary manner.

9 are the clutch-teeth, formed on the face of escapement-wheel 7.

10 is the pallet-lever, gearing with the escapement-whcel '7.

is a disk keyed to shaft 5 and having an opening 15 through it.

16 is the clutch-disk carrying the clutchtooth 16, which passes through the opening 15 and engages the teeth 9 of the escapement-wheel. The disk 16 is formed with a collar or barrel 16 within which is confined a spiral spring 17, surrounding shaft 5 and confined between the disk 16 and the end of the tubular collar 18. The collar 18 is keyed to shaft 5 and is provided with a flange 19. The barrel 16 is provided with a fiange 16, with which the tooth of the shifting mechanism engages. For disengaging the clutch from the escapement-wheel the disk 16 is moved away from the escapement-wheel against the action or tendency of the spiral spring.

The forward end 5 of the shaft 5 is cut away or flattened for the reception of tubular sleeve 25, which has a small pin 26 passing eocentrically through it, the flattened portion 5 of the shaft engaging with the pin.

27 is the rounded heart-shaped cam, and 28 is the pointed heart-shaped cam, said cams being mounted eeeentrically upon the tubular sleeve 25, with their notches or depressions 2'7 and 2t corresponding or on the same side of the shaft.

29 is a small disk mounted upon the tubular sleeve 25, adjacent to the cam 27.

30 is the seconds-hand, formed with a collar 31, which has a cut-out portion The collar 31 is adapted to fit snugly upon the tubular sleeve 25, the cut-out portion 32 engaging the projecting ends of the pin 26. The flattened portion 5 of the shaft, the pin 26, and cut-out portion 32 insure the assembling of the parts into proper relative position.

35 is an electromagnet, and 36 is the synchronizing arm or lever, pivoted at 37 and formed with an arm 38, carrying the arma ture 39, which is adapted to be attracted by the electromagnet. At the outer end of the synchronizing-lever S6 is mounted a pointed finger lO, adapted to engage the SyHUlHOI'IlZ- ing-cam 2S, and journaled alongside the finger 40 is a small roller or wheel 41, which is adapted to engage the rounded cam 27.

43 is another arm projecting inwardly from the synchroniZing-lever, which is adapted to be engaged by a suit-able detent and lock the synchronizing-lever against movement until released by the clock-train. The construction of the locking-detent and arm 13 forms no part of my present invention.

4:5 is a plate or bracket attached to the clock-frame, and 4:6 is a short rock-shaft journaled in the bracket #15 and having keyed to its forward end a finger 47, which engages the collar 16 of the clutch.

48 is an arm also projecting from rock-shaft 4:6 and adj ustabl y mounted thereon. The arm 48 projects into the path of the plate 4:9, carried by or forming part of the synchronizing-lever 36, so that the movement of the lever for synchronizing the seconds-hand will first disengage the clutch from the escapement 7, allowing the seconds-hand to be freely moved.

The operation of the device maybe briefly 4 described as follows: \Vhen the moment for synchronizing arrives, the clock-train will have released the synchronizing-lcver, so that the electric impulse which is passed through the electromagnet 35 will rock the lever 36 011 its pivot, first causing the clutch-disk to move away from and out of engagement with the escapement-wheel 7 and afterward returning the seconds-hand to zero position by reason of the engagement of the pointed finger 4:0 and roller ll with the cams 2S and 27. hen the synchronizing moment has passed, the armature will be released by the electromagnet and the synehronizing-lever will be carried back into its normal inactive position by the gravity of the armature, allowing the spring 17 to throw the clutch into engagement with the cscapement-wheel, so that the hand will continue to operate.

In disengaging the seconds-hand from the clock-train it will be observed that the spring 17 is compressed against the collar 19 on the seconds-hand shaft and the uniform motion of the pendulum and clock-train will not be interfered with.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a synchronizing clock, the combination of a clock-train including an escapement in permanent connection tl1erewith,a second shand, an arbor carrying said seconds-hand and having said escapement mounted thereon with freedom of rotary movement, a sleeve mounted on and engaging with said arbor so as to be free to slide thereon but compelled to rotate therewith, a collar fastened on said arbor, a clutch having one member 011 said escapement and the other member on said sleeve, a spring between said sleeve and collar holding the two parts of the clutch in engagement, synchronizing devices operating 011 the seconds-hand arbor, and means connected to and operating in conjunction with said synchronizing devices for moving the aforesaid sleeve along the shaft toward said collar to disconnect the clutch.

2. In a synchronizing clock, the combination of the clock-train, seconds-hand, its arbor, an eseapement-wheel journaled loosely on said arbor and permanently geared to the clock-train, a spring-actuated clutch whose axially-moving member,its sprin and springabutment are attached to and carried by said arbor, and whose other member is connected to said escapement-wheel, the motions of the clutch being thus without frictional effect on the eseapement, and means for operating said clutch and turning said hand and arbor to synchronizing position while the hand is entirely freed from connection, frictional or otherwise, with the escapement, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a synchronizing clock, the combination of the seconds-hand shaft journaled in the clock-frame, the seconds-hand attached thereto, the escapement-wheel freely journaled upon the seconds-hand shaft and formed with clutch-teeth on one face, the clock-train in permanent gear with the escapementwheel, a sliding spring-actuated clutch adapted to normally engage the clutch-teeth of the escapement-wheel, a rock-shaft journaled in the clock-frame, a clutch-operating rock-arm attached to the rock-shaft and engaging the sliding clutch, a synchronizing-arm adapted to synchronize the seconds-hand and an arm projecting from said rock-shaft into the path of and operated by the synchronizing-arm, whereby the clutch will be disengaged just before the hand is synchronized,substantially as set forth.

4. In a synchronizing clock, the combination of the shaft cut away or flattened on one side, with the tubular sleeve having a pin passin eccentrically through it for engaging the flattened portion of the shaft, and a hand mounted on a sleeve or collar which fits upon said tubular sleeve and is formed with a notch or cut-out portion which engages the projectin g ends of said pin, substantially as set forth.

JAMES H. GERRY.

\Vitnesses:

M. V. BIDGOOD, H. E. KNIGHT. 

